The Villainess's Guide to Winning the Male Lead

Chapter 105

The ball was a rare occasion for me. Even when I was Anais, I didn’t feel this nervous.

‘Back then, I was only focused on the broadcast...’

Now, attending as my true self, it was natural to worry about making a mistake.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Hans seemed to notice and comforted me.

Right, what could go wrong with Hans by my side? Even if I caused trouble, Hans would handle it. Thinking that way calmed my nerves.

“I just want to maintain Camilla’s image.”

“You’re not as reckless as you were as Anais.”

“Of course. It’s my life, after all.”

It was a logical response.

“Anyway, we’re only seven years old. Even if we make a mistake, they’ll overlook it once.”

“That’s true...”

Even the strictest of nobles wouldn’t harshly criticize the mistake of a seven-year-old. It was fortunate to wear the mask of a child at times like this.

“Hey, kids, you’re here?”

We ran into Irmin, who seemed to have come out to meet us. Perhaps to avoid others’ scrutiny, he was in one of his frequent disguises.

“Aren’t you getting ready, Your Highness?”

“I’m not attending this time.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To watch you two.”

“Even if His Highness, the Crown Prince, doesn’t attend, is it okay for Camilla as the disciple?”

Hans probably assumed Irmin would attend. After all, he told me that Irmin would attend for my sake.

“But it’s bothersome―”

Typical Irmin. We both smoothly glossed over it.

“But Kabir will be there! You’ll have someone to look after you, so don’t worry.”

Having Kabir there was reassuring enough. It seemed Irmin felt comfortable skipping out because of that.

“Come on, follow me. I’ll stay with you until you enter.”

Being disguised as a servant, it wouldn’t be odd for Irmin to be with us.

“You’re just going to watch us enter and then leave?”

“Yes. I have a backlog of work anyway.”

At least he seemed to be working now. It was relieving to see he had developed some sense of responsibility.

Irmin truly escorted us to the ballroom door and then disappeared. A knight, thinking he was just an ordinary servant, looked surprised as he used teleportation magic.

“It’s Owen and Camilla.”

“Yes, sir!”

At my words, the knight hurriedly started looking for our names.

‘Maybe I should turn on the broadcast, it’s a big event.’

Though it was a hassle, I wanted to enjoy the ball with everyone. While waiting, I turned on the broadcast.

[Isaac: hi]@@@@

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Wow, the dress is beautiful!!!]

[Plong: So cute haha]

As expected, my angels had a positive reaction. Every time they welcomed me like this, I felt guilty for not broadcasting more often.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’ll do it more.’

It was just a feeling of guilt.

Soon, we entered the ballroom.

As the two young children entered the ballroom, the nobles looked puzzled.

I heard murmuring around us. Ignoring it, I scanned the room for Kabir.

“Ah.”

Just then, Kabir approached us swiftly.

Standing in front of us, Kabir gave an awkward smile.

“Should’ve had a maid call me. Did you plan to enter by yourselves?”

“The Crown Prince escorted us.”

“Really, Irmin came and went...”

Kabir sighed softly, still with a hint of amusement.

“Ah, these must be the children Lord Kabir mentioned.”

A woman approached from behind. With her refreshing blue hair, she was a beauty.

Bending down to our level, she smiled warmly at us.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Amelia Dias.”

Oh, she’s the one who will be betrothed to Jamon in the future. She seemed even more mischievous than I expected.

The rumor had already spread that far. I felt a bit embarrassed.

As expected of the sociable Selena, she started to initiate conversations on various topics.

“How old are you? What’s your name?”

“Seven years old, Camilla.”

“Miss Camilla.”

She was using honorifics consistently, even though I was much younger and a commoner. That was so like Selena.

“How do you find the ball? Is it not too tiring?”

“It’s a bit tiring.”

“Ahaha, I thought so. I was feeling tired too, so I came out to take a breather.”

The conversation flowed smoothly. Maybe it was because of Selena, but there was no awkward silence.

“Selena.”

While we were having the conversation, someone entered as the curtains were drawn.

[OnlyFinley has donated 10,000 points!]

– Here!!!

It was Finley.

Finley’s gaze shifted towards me. He looked puzzled.

“That child is.......”

“Finley, this is the person. The disciple of His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“...Ah.”

Finley’s eyes narrowed.

‘What’s with that reaction?’

It seemed like a somewhat displeased response.

“I’ll pay my respects to the Grand Duke separately. Selena, let’s go now.”

“Ah, yes. It was nice meeting you!”

Led by Finley, Selena returned to the ballroom hall.

I was left all alone on the terrace.

“...Hmm.”

Even so, I met Selena, so was today’s objective achieved? A sense of fulfillment washed over me.

* * *

The ball had come to an end.

“You did a great job. That must have been tough.”

Slumped over from exhaustion, I heard Kabir’s kind voice. Hans and I were completely drained from our first ball in a long time.

“Feeling sleepy?”

“Yes.......”

I replied, rubbing my eyes at Hans’s question. Being in a child’s body, sleepiness came at the most unexpected times.

“Come here, Camilla.”

Kabir reached out his hand to me.

As I approached Kabir, he picked me up.

“It’s okay to sleep if you’re tired.”

I didn’t want to be a burden. But contrary to my wishes, my eyes kept closing.

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep.

“.......”

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in my room at the Grand Duke’s mansion.

I was laid down on my bed. Moonlight seeped through the window.

I was awake, but somehow I didn’t feel like getting up. The tranquility of the moment was just too precious.

‘I met everyone I wanted to meet.’

I had talked to Selena, the person I wanted to see the most, and made sure she was doing well.

I should have felt relieved. Yet, what came over me was a sense of emptiness.

‘Why is that?’

My heart felt troubled.

Wrapped in a complex mix of feelings, I kept tossing and turning in my bed.

Eventually, I got up.

I headed straight to Hans’s room. Knocking on his door, it wasn’t long before Hans appeared.

“Why.......”

Hans seemed to have just woken up, still half-asleep.

I said to him,

“Could you please give me some advice on something I’m worried about?”